Target device



N. E. SQUIRE TARGET DEVICE Nov. 17, 1936.

Filed July 15, 1 936 2 Sheets-Sheet l NdffZQH E. Syu re INVENTOR.

H I S ATTORNEY.

NOV. 17; 1936. E SQUIRE 2,061,092-

TARGET DEVICE Filed July 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Na //2 en E. Syujre INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Amusement Devices, poration of Illinois Application July 15,

7 Claims.

This invention relates. to target devices.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved target device which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction as well as highly eflicient in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved target device of the type wherein'a plurality of targets are rotated about a driving mechanism, each target being provided with an aperture; 0. periscope arranged adjacent each of the targets and movable therewith whereby a beam of light passing through the aperture formed in the target is directed onto a photo-electric cell.

A further object of the present invention is'to provide an improved target device in which targets are rotated about a shaft, each target being provided with an aperture and associated with a periscope, and in which a photo-electric cell is connected to an amplifier unit and is positioned concentrically with the rotation of the targets and periscoping whereby a beam of light passing through the aperture in the target will be directed by the periscope onto the photo-electric cell- A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved target device, comprising a plurality of movable targets associated with a corresponding number of periscopes for directing a beam of light projected :on the target to a photo-electric cell mounted upon an amplifier unit axially relative to the movement of the targets to excite thephoto cell, thus setting up current in the amplifier to actuate a relay which in turn controls a circultfor releasing the target originally struck .by the beam of light and thereby allow thelatter to fall by gravity into a hit position.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be best understood by refer-' ence to the accompanying drawings showlng the preferred form of construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the new target device as seen along lines l-i in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; 1 1

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view as seen along lines 4-4 in Fig. 1.

In the drawings Ill indicates a supporting shelf which may be suitably mounted in a shooting gallery. Supported by this shelf I0 is a housing II in which is rotatably mounted a tubular shaft l2. There is fixedly mounted on the shaft l2, within the housing II, a gear l3 which'is en- Inc., Chicago, 111., a cor- 1936, Serial No. 90,788

gageable with a worm gear l4 likewise supported in the housing I l on a drive shaft l5 which is disposed at right angles to the tubular shaft l2. Thedrive shaft I 5 extends exteriorly of the housing H and is connected to the drive shaft of a 5 suitable motor H5 or the like.

Mounted on the housing II is the magnetic coil ll of a solenoid [8 which includes an armature l9. Loosely connected to the free end of the armature I9 is one end of a link 20 having its 10 opposite end loosely mounted upon the free end of a rocker arm 2|, and this rocker arm 2| is pivotally mounted between its ends as at 22 within the tubular shaft l2.

Mounted on one end portion of the tubular 15 shaft l2 for rotatable movement therewith is a hub portion 23 and extending radially from this hub 23 are two hollow arms 24 having a disc 25 pivotally mounted at their extremities. Disposed within the hub portion 23 is a yoke 21 which 20 is carried by one end of the rocker arm 2|. Slidably mounted within each hollow arm 24 is a latch rod 28 having one end thereof inserted through an opening formed in the arm of the yoke 21 and having enlarged portions, in the form 35 of a nut, fixed thereto within the yoke 21 to limit the outward movement of the rod 28.

Positioned within the yoke 21 and extending from one latch rod 28 to the other is a spring 29 which is supported within a sleeve 30, and this 30 spring 29 normally urges the latch rod 28radially from the hub portion 23. The free end portions of the latch rod.28 are normally disposed in notches 3| formed on the peripheral edges of the discs 25 and thereby releasably hold the lat- 35 ter against rotatable movement at 26 in a manner to be described.

Fixed to each of the discs 25 by means of weight bearing bolts 34 is a target 32 having an aperture 33 formed therein, and aligned with the aperture 33 to the rear of the target 32 is a lens 33 which encloses the entrance to a periscope member 38. The periscope 36 comprises a tubular portion 31, the longitudinal axis of which corresponds to the'central axis of the aperture 33 in 45 the target 32;v and a tubular portion 38 which carries the portion 31 and is in turn supported by an extension 39 of the hub structure 23. The extension 39 is tubular in construction and is adapt- 60 ed to circumscribe a photo-electric cell 40 which is formed as a part of an amplifier ll andis normally disposed with its light sensitive elements within an enclosure 43 formed by the extension 39, in a riannerto receive a light ray from the uppermost periscope member 36 (Fig. 1). The enclosure 43 is separated from the hub structure 23 by a diaphragm 44, and is sealed against outside light by a felt collar 45, which is fitted onto the base of the photo-electric cell 46 in a manner to engage the open end of the tubular extension 39.

In each of the tubular portions 31 of the periscope 36 is an insert 46,-and this insert 46 carries a mirror 41. to dispose the latter at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the members 31 and 38, and at the point of intersection of the said axis in a manner to deflect a beam of light, entering through the lens 35 of the member 31, into the tubular member 38 and toward the photoelectric cell 40.

A rod 48 extends diametrically across the insert member 46 and forms a handle for adjusting the mirror 4'! and also acts as a guide in the sense that when the rod 48 is at right angles to the member 38 of the periscope 36 the mirror 41 is properly positioned in the periscope 36. The rear portion of the tubular member 31 is covered preferably by a rubber cap 49 to prevent light from the outside entering at that point.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the supporting shelf H! is provided with an opening 56 to permit rotation of the arms 24, targets 32 and the periscopes 36 about the shaft l2 when the device is in operation.

' Mounted upon the amplifier 4| is a relay 5| which is actuated by the amplifier in a manner to be described presently.

Fixedly mounted on the right end of the tubular shaft I2 (as seen in Fig. 1) is a cam 52 formed of a non-conductive material. This cam 52 is operatively associated with a pair of switch members 53 to intermittently close and open the latter during the rotation of the shaft 2 for areason to be explained presently. 1

Referring to Fig. 3 in which a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit embodying the present invention is shown, there is included in the circuit, in addition to the motor l6, photo-electric cell 40, amplifier 4|, relay 5|, solenoid l8, and the switch 53, a source of electrical supply from a main input such as a 110 volt line indicated at 55, a switch 56 for controlling the current from the source of supply and a diagrammatic illustration of a gun 54, in which there is a light source 51 wherefrom a beam or flash of light may be directed at the aperture 33 of the target 32, and a transformer 58 which is connected in circuit 'to the light source 51.

The primary winding of the amplifier transformer T is connected directly to the source of supply 55, thereby conditioning the secondary winding of the same to supply current to the amplifier circuit. The photo-electric cell 40 is connected in the amplifier circuit in a manner to convey current from the transformer T to the electric tubes Ewhen a light impinges on the photo-electric cell 46; whereuponamplification of the current takes place and the output side of the amplifier conveys current through the coil of the relay 5| to energize the latter.

The switch 56 may be controlled by a coin operated device or through the means of any mechanically operated shot limiting device (not shown) which may likewise be controlled by a coin operated device. will convey current from the source of supply 55 along conductor 66, through conductor 6| and the motor l6 and by way of conductor 62 back into the source at 55, thereby causing the motor through the medium of the shaft l5, worm l4 and A closing of the switch 56 gear Hi to rotate the shaft l2 and its associated parts.

Simultaneously current is conveyed from th source of supply 55 by way of conductor 60 and switch 56 into conductors 63 and 64 to the pri- 5 mary winding of the transformer 58, through the latter and back to the source of supply, thereby supplying current to the light source 51 in the gun 54. The switch 56 likewise connects another circuit with the source of supply; however, this circuit is controlled by the switch 65 onthe relay 5| which is only closed when the coil of the relay 5| is energized in the manner hereinbefore described.

When the switch 65 is closed current flows from the source of supply 55 through conductor 60, switch 56, conductor 63 and switch 65 into conductor 66 and the coil I! of the solenoid l8, and from the latter by way of conductor 61 back into the source of supply, thereby attracting, the armature l9 (upwardly Fig. 1) whereupon the link 26 acts to pivot the rocker arm 2| at 22, causing the yoke 21 at the opposite end of the rocker arm 2| to be moved downwardly. The bottom arm of the yoke 21 will then slide along the lowermost latch rod 28 and the upper arm of the yoke 21 will then pull the uppermost latch rod 28 down in a manner to withdraw the free end of the rod 28 from the notch 3| in the disc 25 thereby releasing the disc 25 and the target 32 and allowing the latter to gravitate by action of the weight 34 into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 1.

It is to be noted that the target in the upper- I most position is the one aimed at, and in the 35 event the aim has been perfect, that is if through the medium of the gun 54 a light beam has been directed through the aperture 33 in the target 32 and by way of the periscope 36 and the light has impinged upon the photo-electric cell 40, the relay 5| will be actuated by the amplifier 4| and thus close circuit to the solenoid l8 to operate the release mechanism 20, 2|, 21 and 28 to allow the target to fall into a hit position. It being understood that the arms 24 and their targets 32 are rotating about the shaft 2, the target disposed in hit position will pass through the opening 56 provided in the shelf 0 (right hand side as seen in Fig. 2) until the arm 24 carrying the thus disposed target travels through its arch of movement below the horizontal plane of the shaft I2, whereupon the weight 34 will act to move the target toward a vertical position in which instance the disc 25 will rotate at 26 until the free end of the latch rod 28 is urgedinto the notch 3| by action of the spring 29 and the target 32 will then be conditioned for its upper arch of movement.

When the switch 56 is rendered i'nefiective by mechanical means or by manual operation (not shown), the circuits to the solenoid l8 and the transformer 58 are broken, as will be the circuit. to the motor l6; the latter, however, may continue to operate through the switch 53 by action of the ,cam 52 in the following manner: the offsets on the cam 52 are positioned relative to the arms 24 so that if the arms 24 were in a horizontal position (as seen in dotted lines Fig. 2) when the switch 56 was broken, the switch 53 would be closed to shunt the current around the switch 56 and 70 thus the motor l6 would continue to operate until the arms 24 neared the vertical position (as shown in Fig. 1) whereupon the switch 53 would ride oil the cam 52 and the current would then be broken to the motor I6 and the latter cease to operate.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: 1. A target apparatus comprising a movable member having radial arm portions with light receiving areastherein and having a central chamber with a light sensitive element therein, channel portions communicating from said chamber to said receiving areas, and means positioned relative to said receiving areas for directing light passing therefrom through a said channel portion to the said light sensitive element in said chamber.

2. A target device comprising a member having a chambered hub portion, a photo-electric cell in said chamber, hollow radial arms extended from said chamber and'having target apertures opening in a direction parallel to the axis of said hub portion, light deflecting means behind the said apertures and positioned to deflect light from said apertures through the said hollow arms onto the said photo-electric cell in said hub portion.

3. A target device comprising a chambered hub member having hollowv radial arm portions with target members having axially directed target apertures therein and means for directing light rays from said target apertures into said chambered hub portion for the actuation of light sensitive means therein, means supporting said target device for rotation about the axis of its said hub portion, rotating means for said target device, and means for supporting a light-sensitive member in the said chambered hub portion independently of the rotation of said target device.

4. In combination: a rotatable target member having a chambered hub portion and hollow radially extensive portions with target apertures therein and means behind said apertures for directing light toward the said chambered hub portion; target elements positioned before the said target apertures for gravitating movement into a hit position and rotatable with the said target member; latch means extended from the said hub portion for engagement with the said target menibers to latch the latter from movement relative to the said target apertures; means for rotating the said target member; electro-magnetic means for releasing the said latching means to permit the said target members to move relative to the said target apertures; a photo-electric device in the said chambered hub portion; and means operable to actuate said electro-magnetic means to unlatch the said target members for movement into a hit position when light is directed from the said target apertures onto the said photoelectric device.

5. In electric target apparatus, in combination: a rotatable target member having radially disposed target parts with target apertures therein directed axially of said hub; means behind said apertures for directing light to the said hub portion; a movable apertured target member supported from said hub and positionable before the said target members with the respective said apertures thereof in registration and being movable by gravity relative to said target member to a hit position wherein the said target apertures are out of registration; latch means extended from the said hub and normally latching the said apertured target in position for registration of the said respective target apertures; means for rotating the said target including a shaft portion extended into the said hub; a latch-means releasing member extending into said shaft and operatively connected with said latch means; electro-magnetic means for moving said releasing member to unlatch said latching means; means positioning a photo-electric cell in the said chambered portion of the said hub; and means controlled by the said photo-electric cell to energize the said electro-magnetic means for release of said target members to move into a hit position when light is directed through the said registered target apertures.

6. A target mechanism for use with light projecting guns, said mechanism comprising a rotatable member having a plurality of target-lens housings disposed radially of its axis of rotation and directed parallel thereto, a photo-electric cell positioned at the axis of said member, target portions having apertures therein and positionable relative to said lens housings for the registration of the said apertures with the lenses thereof, means normally urging said movable target members away from said lens housings and latching means engageable with said apertured target members to hold the latter in aperture-registered position relative to said lenses, means for directing light rays from said lenses to said photocell, and electro-mechanical means operable to release said latching means when said photo-cell is struck by light directed through a said lens in a said lens housing.

'7. A rotatable target for use with light-projecting devices, comprising: a hub member and means for rotating the latter; target members including light-directing means supported by said hub; movable indicating members normally positioned before said target members; means for latching said movable indicating members against movement; photo-electric means within said hub; a latch releasing member extended from said hub and having operative connection with an electromagnetic release member; and means operatively connecting said photo-cell with said electro-magnetic release means whereby the said movable indicating members will be unlatched for movement to indicate a hit when said photo-cell is struck by light passing through said lenses.

NATHEN E. SQUIRE. 

